Safety fears put future of fence in doubt
A wooden fence in Doune may have to be pulled down after council planners said it compromised road safety.
Douglas Homan retrospectively submitted an application for a 1.8 metre high timber fence at 6 Deanston Gardens.
Three representations were lodged to the proposal, including two objections.
Among the comments were that the fence should be lowered for safety reasons due to the visibility, that it was a hazard for pedestrians and road users, and that it was an “eyesore”, with the height not in keeping with the character or appearance of the estate.
In their decision, council planners said:“the application relates to a detached bungalow that is set back from the street scene. The site was previously part of the original Deanston Conservation Area, however has since been excluded through redesignation.
“The fencing demarcates the front boundary and driveway of 6 Deanston Gardens and includes gates. The fencing is high level (1.8m) timber panel fencing that has been reduced to one metre for a short section where the fencing abuts the public pavement.
“The area is characterised by open plan frontages and natural landscaping in the form of trees and bushes. The design of the timber fencing, being very engineered, is not in keeping with the character of the area.
“Considering this and its height and siting, to the front of the house, it creates a very intrusive development that would adversely affect the character and appearance of the host dwelling and wider area.”
The planners acknowledged, however, that the fence did not adversely affect the daylight, sunlight or privacy of neighbours.
The proposed development is therefore acceptable in this regard.
The council’s Transport Development Team were consulted on the proposal and said that the fence sits within the required visibility splays for the driveway access, and therefore represents a potential obstruction to visibility.
The planners added:“whilst it is noted the fence has been reduced in height in order to improve visibility, the works to enable this have not been done to provide sufficient visibility splays in line within [planning] guidance.
“If evidence was provided to set out the fence in relation to the following visibility splays, the Transport Development Team would have no further concerns.
“The fence currently fails to achieve adequate visibility splays and as such fails to achieve a safe access for the property and creates a potential hazard for users of the adjacent pavement and road.”